Article finishing machine

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for automatically finishing selected areas of elongated articles such as picker sticks. The picker stick is shifted by a conveyor means into the path of a first pair of elongated sanding machines. At least one of the sanding machines is pivotally supported and is shifted to and from a sanding position by selectively supplying air to a pneumatic cylinder which has its piston rod coupled to the pivotally supported sanding machine. First and second switch means are carried in the path of the picker stick for generating signals that are supplied to a pneumatic valve for controlling the flow of air to the pneumatic cylinder. A second pair of sanding machines is provided for sanding the upper and lower surfaces of the picker stick. Driven wheels engage the picker sticks for feeding them between the sanding machines.

lite States tent Huffman, Jr.

[ Nov. 5, 1974 ARTICLE FINISHING MACHINE [76] Inventor: Coy L. Huffman,Jr., 107 Brookside Way, Greenville, SC 29605 [22] Filed: Dec. 3, 1973[21] Appl. No.: 421,346

Primary ExaminerOthell M. Simpson Attorney, Agent, or FirrnBailey &Dority [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for automatically finishing selectedareas of elongated articles such as picker sticks. The picker stick isshifted by a conveyor means into the path of a first pair of elongatedsanding machines. At least one of the sanding machines is pivotallysupported and is shifted to and from a sanding position by selectivelysupplying air to a pneumatic cylinder which has its piston rod coupledto the pivotally supported sanding machine. First and second switchmeans are carried in the path of the picker stick for generating signalsthat are supplied to a pneumatic valve for controlling the flow of airto the pneumatic cylinder. A second pair of sanding machines is providedfor sanding the upper and lower surfaces of the picker stick. Drivenwheels engage the picker sticks for feeding them between the sandingmachines.

5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PMENYEMW 5 can swimaur s. 3'845'588BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to anapparatus for automatically finishing selected areas of elongatedarticles and more particularly to an apparatus for finishing outersurfaces of picker sticks while omitting certain portions thereof.Picker sticks used on looms can be constructed of many suitable woodenmaterials such as hickory and compressed laminated woods. In preparingthe picker sticks, it is desirable that the exposed surfaces thereof befinished by sanding or the like. On one side of the picker stick, thereis a serrated portion which is engaged by a lug strap during weaving.Heretofore, in order to finish picker sticks, such was manually sandedomitting the serrated portion. Such is time consuming and increases theoverall price of the finished picker sticks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention includes an apparatus forautomatically finishing selected areas of an elongated picker stickwhile leaving a serrated portion of the picker stick unfinished. Theapparatus includes a supporting frame with a conveyor means for movingthe elongated picker sticks in a straight path thereover. A firstelongated sanding machine is carried by theframe on one side of the pathfor engaging and finishing one side of the picker stick as the pickerstick is moved therepass by the conveyor means. A second elongatedsanding machine is pivotally supported on the framefor being shiftedinto and out of engagement with the other side of the picker stick. Adouble acting pneumatic cylinder is carried by the frame and has apiston rod extending out one end thereof coupled to a second sandingmachine. A valve means is coupled between the pressurized source of airand the cylinder and is capable of assuming a first state wherein air iscoupled therethrough to the cylinder extending the piston rod and asecond state wherein air is coupled therethrough to the cylinderretracting the piston rod. A first switch means is carried in the pathof the picker stick for supplying a signal to the valve means uponengaging the picker stick being moved by the conveyor means. A secondswitch means is carried in the path of the picker stick and is spaced apredetermined distance from the first switch means for supplying asignal to the valve means upon engaging the picker stick being moved bythe conveyor means. The valve means selectively supplies air to thecylinder causing the second sanding machine to shift between a sandingposition and a non-sanding position responsive to signals from the firstand second switch means. Thus, the second sanding machine sands aportion of the other side of the picker stick adjacent the leading edgeof the stick, omits the serrated portion, and sands a portion adjacentthe trailing edge. Additional sanding machines are provided for sandingthe upper and lower surfaces of the picker stick as such is moved by theconveyor means.

Accordingly, it is the general object of the present in-- vention toprovide an apparatus which automatically finishes exposed surfaces of apicker stick while omitting certain portions thereof.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide anapparatus for automatically finishing picker sticks in which varioussize sticks can be finished thereby.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide anapparatus for finishing elongated articles which possesses adjustablemeans that controls the areas of the article to be sanded.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent upon reference to the following specification, attendant claimsand drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side, elevational viewillustrating an apparatus constructed in accordance with the presentinvention for finishing picker sticks and the like,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1,

FIGS. 3 and 3a, 4 and 4a, 5 and 5a, disclose diagramatically thelocation of a'picker stick relative to control switches forming part ofthe invention and the corresponding position of sanding machines,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view with parts removed for purposes of clarityillustrating the drive mechanism forming the conveyor means forconveying the picker sticks during the finishing operation, and

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the pneumatic controls forselectively shifting sanding machines between a sanding and non-sandingposition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2,there is illustrated a supporting frame generally designated by thereference character 10 which includes four vertically extending cornerlegs 12 through 15 which have a substantially square frame member 16carried on the top thereof. Extending between the sides of the squareframe member 16 is a cross brace 17 which is constructed of any suitablematerial, such as angle iron. Another cross brace 18 is disposedvertically below the cross brace 17 and is supported between uprightbraces 19 carried between the upper frame member 16 and the lower sidebraces 20. Other suitable bracing such as a lower horizontal rail 21,upwardly extending brace 22 and an upper rail 23 are suitably supportedby the frame member 10. Conventional motor mounts and the like aresupported by the frame 10 but such are not disclosed for the purpose ofclarity.

A conveyor means is provided for moving the elongated picker sticks in astraight path over the supporting frame 10. The conveyor means includesthe flat horizontal rail 23 which has a plurality of freely rotatablewheels 24 longitudinally spaced thereon. The picker stick is moved fromright to left over the horizontal frame by a plurality of longitudinallyspaced driven wheels 25. The wheels 25 engage one side of the pickerstick while the other side of the picker stick is pressed against thefreely rotatable wheels 24 for being driven across the frame 10.

The mechanism for driving the wheels 25 is best illustrated in FIG. 6and includes an electric motor 26 which is coupled through a belt 27 toan input of a gear reduction box 28. The output of the gear reductionbox 28 is coupled through a chain 29 to a gear 30 carried on a verticalshaft 31. Positioned on top of the shaft 31 is one of the drive wheels25. The shaft is suitably journaled in a bearing block 32 carried on aside frame member 33. Positioned on the bottom of the shaft 31 isanother gear 34 around which a chain 35 wraps. The

chain 35 extends longitudinally below the rail 23 around an idle gear 36and gears 37 carried on the bottom of shafts 38 which have the wheels 25suitably secured to the upper end thereof. Positioned between the shafts38 are idle gears 39. The chain extends around the gears 37 and the idlegears 39 in a zigzag manner so that all of the shafts 38 are rotated inthe same direction for driving the picker stick from right to leftacross the rail 23 as shown in FIG. 6 and from left to right as shown inFIG. 2.

The drive rollers 25 carried on the right end of the rail 23 shown inFIG. 6, are driven through chains 39 and 40 which wrap around a gear 41carried on the right hand shaft 38. The rollers 25 shown on the right inFIG. 6 are mounted on top of shafts 42 and 43 which are suitablyjournaled in bearing blocks 44. Positioned on the bottom of shaft 42 area pair of gears 45 and 46. The chain 39, in turn, wraps around the gear46 for driving shaft 42 and the chain 40 wraps around gear 45 fordriving the vertical shaft 43.

The wheels shown on the left hand end of the conveyor means in FIG. 6are driven by a chain 47 which wraps around a gear 48 carried on shaft31. Chain 47, by means of chains 47a and 47b, drives shafts 49 which aresuitably mounted on a side frame member 33 in bearing blocks 50.

Carried on the frame for sanding opposed sides and the top and bottom ofpicker sticks passing over the frame are four elongated sanding machinesgenerally designated by the reference characters 51, 52, 53

and 54. Each of the sanding machines are constructed in the same manner,therefore, a detailed description of only one will be given. Forexample, the sanding machine 51 includes an elongated angle iron member55 which has a hub 56 welded thereto. Extending through the hub 56 is ashaft 57 which is journaled within a pair of vertically spaced bearingposts 58 and 59. The bearing post 58 is. in turn, bolted to the crossangle iron 17 whereas the bearing post 59 is supported on the crossangle iron 18. The shaft 57 is permitted to rotate within the bearingposts 58 and 59 so as to allow the elongated angle member 55 to pivotabout the bearing posts 57. An electric motor 60 is bolted to an innerend of the elongated angle member 55 and has a shaft 61 extendingupwardly therefrom. Mounted on the upper end of the shaft 61 is a drum62 around which an elongated continuous sanding belt 63 is wrapped. Theother end of the elongated sanding belt 63 is looped around a freelyrotatable smaller drum 64 which is suitably mounted on the other end ofthe angle member 55. Electricity is supplied to the electric motor fromany suitable source of electrical power by means of wires, not shown.Like reference characters are used for similar parts of each ofthesanding machines 51, 52, 53 and 54.

In order to control the distance that the inner end of the sandingmachines 51 and 52 are allowed to pivot, a flange member 65 is welded tothe inner end of the elongated angle member 55 and has an adjustablebolt 66 threadably extending therethrough. The inner end of theadjustable bolt 66 engages a stop 67 carried on the upper frame 16. Thebolt 66 may be screwed in and out to accomodate the sanding of variouswidth picker sticks.

Also, extending inwardly from the angle member 55 is an angle shoe 68which has an inner end 69 which terminates closely adjacent the tangentof the drum 62 around which the sanding belt 63 is wrapped. The angleshoe 68 guides the picker sticks between the two sanding machines 51 and52 so that the sides of the picker stick are engaged by the sandingbelts 63 at the tangent of the drums 62. The angle shoe 68 is supportedby a bracket 70 which is welded to the angle member 65. Therefore, theangle shoe 68 moves with the sanding machine 51 as such is pivotedbetween a sanding and non-sanding position. The sanding machine 51 isshifted between a sanding and non-sanding position by a pneumaticcylinder 71 which has a piston rod 72 extending out one end that isattached by a pivot joint 72a to the angle member 55. The other end ofthe pneumatic cylinder 71 is pivotally attached by a pin to the frame16. When air is supplied to an upper port 73 of the pneumatic cylinder71, such causes the sanding machine 51 to pivot counter-clockwise aboutthe shaft 57 out of sanding position. When air is supplied to a lowerport 74 of the pneumatic cylinder 71 the sanding machine 51 is pivotedto the position shown in FIG. 2.

Sanding machine 52 is also manipulated by a pneumatic cylinder 75 whichhas a piston rod 76 extending out one end thereof to engage the anglemember 55 of the sanding machine 52. The other end of the pneumaticcylinder 75 is coupled to the frame 16. Air is selectively supplied toport 78 of the cylinder 75 for moving the sanding machine 52 intosanding position.

After the sanding machines 51 and 52 have sanded the sides of the pickerstick being moved along by the conveyor means over the frame 16 of theapparatus, it passes between the sanding machines 53 and 54 which areprovided for sanding the upper and lower sides of the picker sticks. Thesanding machine 54 is pivotally supported on a shaft 79 journaled in abearing block 80, carried on the vertical frame member 13. The rail 23has a cut-out portion (not shown for clarity) for permitting the lowersanding machine 54 to engage the lower side of the picker stick as itpasses thereby.

Sanding member 53 is similarly mounted on a shaft 81 carried within abearing block 82 supported on the vertical frame member 13. A pneumaticcylinder 83 is coupled between a flange 84 extending outwardly from theframe member 13 and a bracket 85 carried by the upper sanding machine 53for pivoting the sanding machine 53 into the position shown in FIG. 1when air is supplied to the cylinder 83. When air is removed from thecylinder 83, a spring 86 pivots the sanding machine 53 clockwise out ofthe sanding position. The spring 86 extends between the angle member 55and the rail 23. The sanding machine 54 is operated by sa similarpneumatic cylinder 83 as the sanding machine 53 for moving such into andout of sanding position.

Referring to FIGS. I and 2 of the drawing, a first switch means 87 iscarried on an upwardly extending bracket 88 suitably mounted on the rail23 for engaging picker sticks being moved by the conveyor across theframe 10. A second pneumatic switch 89 is spaced longitudinally to theright of the first switch means 87 for sensing the presence of a pickerstick thereunder. The pneumatic switch 89 has a plunger 90 which israised upon engaging the picker stick. Similarly, the pneumatic switch87 has a plunger 91 which is raised upon engaging a picker stick. Theswitches 87 and 89 are mounted on the end of an upwardly extending arm92 which has a plurality of spaced holes 93 provided therein. A bolt 94extends through one of the holes 93 for securing the arm 92 to thevertical bracket 88. The

exact location of the pneumatic switches 87 and 89 can be adjusted byselectively securing the arm 92 to the bracket 88 by means of placingthe bolt 94 through the desired hole 93 therein.

The switches 87 and 89 are pneumatic switches, therefore, air hoses 92aand 93a are coupled thereto. The operation of the pneumatic switcheswill be discussed more fully in conjunction with the pneumatic circuitdiagram of FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 illustrates the pneumatic diagram for operating the cylinders 75and 71. Air is supplied from any suitable source of pressurized air suchas indicated by the reference character 95, fed through a regulator 96,filter 97 to a center port of a T valve 98. One of the output ports ofthe T valve 98 is coupled to a regulator 99 through a line 78 to aninput port of pneumatic cylinder 75. The other output port of the Tjoint 98 is coupled through a regulator 100 to a T joint 101. One of theoutputs of the T joint 101 is coupled by a hose 102 to pneumatic switch89 is coupled to one input 104 of a pneumatic'OR gate 105. The pneumaticOR gate has two inputs 104 and 106 which control the flow of airtherethrough. Air is supplied to another input 107 of the OR gate 105through a T joint 108 which has one input 109 coupled to the output of Tjoint 101. The T joint 108 also has an output l-which is coupled througha tube 92 a to an input 111 of thefirst pneumatic switch87. Anoutput'l12 of the first pneumatic switch 87 is connected to the sensinginput 106 of the OR gate 105. The OR gate 105 has two outputs 113 and114. Output 114 is coupled directly to the upper port 73 of thepneumatic cylinder 71 whereas the output 113 is coupled directly to thelower port 74 of the pneumatic cylinder 71. When the plunger of the pneumatic sensing switches 87 and 89 are raised, air is permitted to flowthrough the particular switch.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 3a, 4, 4a, 5 and 5a as well as schematicdiagram shown in FIG. 7, the manipulation of the sanding machines 51 and52 will be discussed. When the air supply 95 is turned on, air isallowed to flow through the T joint 98 into the pneumatic cylinder 75pivoting the sanding machine 52 inwardly to the position shown in FIGS.7 and 2. When the sanding machine is in this position and a picker stickpasses by the sanding drum 62, it will sand the entire side of thepicker stick being engaged thereby. However, on the opposite side of thepicker stick, it is desired to interrupt the sanding operation so as topermit a serrated portion 116 to pass under the sanding head 62 of thesanding machine 51 without being sanded.

As the picker stick is shifted along the rail 23 by the driven rollers25, it first engages the plunger 91 of the pneumatic switch 87. When theplunger 91 is raised, air is permitted to flow from the air supply 95through the switch 87 to the sensing input 106 of the OR gate 105. Whenair is supplied to the sensing input 106 of the OR gate 105 the mainflow of air coming into the input 107 of the OR gate 105 is permitted topass through the output 113 to the input port 74 of the pneumaticcylinder 71 causing the piston rod 72 to be extended. When the pistonrod 72 is extended, the sanding machine 51 engages the side of thepicker stick 115 to sand that particular side such as shown in FIG. 3a.

The picker stick is moved along the rail 23 until the leading endengages the plunger 90 of the pneumatic switch 89-. When the plunger 90of the pneumatic switch 89 is raised, air is permitted to flow throughthe pneumatic switch 89 to the sensing input 104 of the pneumatic ORgate 105. When this condition occurs, the pneumatic OR gate 105 permitsair to flow therethrough out of the output 114 to the input port 73 ofpneumatic cylinder 71. This retracts the piston pulling the sandingmachine 51 out of engagement with the picker stick, such as shown inFIGS. 4 and 4a, thereby not sanding the serrated portion 116 of thepicker stick. The picker stick is shifted along by the conveyor meanswhich includes the driven rollers 25 until the plunger 91 of the firstswitch means 87 drops off the end of the picker stick. In thiscondition, no air is permitted to pass through the pneumatic switch 87to the sensing input 106 of the OR gate 105. The main flow of airthrough the OR gate 105 is returned back to the output 113 and fed tothe input port 74 of the pneumatic cylinder 71 returning the sandingmachine 51 to the sanding position such as shown in FIGS. 5 and 5a.

As previously mentioned, the spacing between the pneumatic switches 87and 89 can be varied so that the exact location of the unsanded portionon the side of the picker stick can be varied for accomodating varioussizes and designed picker sticks.

The picker stick is then moved along by the conveyor means intoengagement with the sanding machines 53 and 54 for sanding the upper andlower sides thereof. When the air supply is turned on, air is feddirectly to the pneumatic cylinders 83 for the sanding machines 53 and54 so that they are pivoted into a sanding position.

The pneumatic OR valve can be any suitable conventional valve that canbe selectively operated by a pair of pneumatic switches for controllingthe flow of air to inputs of a pneumatic cylinder. The particular valve105 shown in FIG. 7, permits the air to flow from the input 107 to theoutput 113 when there is no air supply to either one or the other of thesensing inputs 104 and'106. When air is supplied to both of the inputs104 and 106 the flow of air through the valve 105 is to the output 114.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, usingspecific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only andit is to be understood that changes and variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for automatically finishing selected areas of anelongated picker stick while leaving a serrated portion of said stickunfinished, said picker stick having opposed sides joined by an upperand lower surface, said apparatus comprising:

a supporting frame;

conveyor means for moving said elongated picker stick in a straight pathover said supporting frame;

a first elongated sanding machine carried by said frame on one side ofsaid path for engaging and finishing one side of said picker stick assaid picker stick is moved therepass by said conveyor means;

a second elongated sanding machine pivotally supported on said frame forbeing shifted into and out of engagement with the other side of saidpicker stick;

a source of pressurized air;

a double acting pneumatic cylinder carried by said frame having a pistonrod extending out one end thereof coupled to said second sandingmachine;

valve means coupled between said pressurized source of air and saidcylinder capable of assuming a first state wherein air is coupledtherethrough to said cylinder extending said piston and a second statewherein air is coupled therethrough to said cylinder retracting saidpiston;

a first switch means carried in the path of said picker picker stick forsupplying a signal to said valve means upon engaging said picker stickbeing moved by said conveyor means;

a second switch means carried in said path of said picker stick andbeing spaced at predetermined distance from said first switch means forsupplying a signal to said valve means upon engaging said picker stickbeing moved by said conveyor means; and

said valve means selectively supplying air to said cylinder for causingsaid second sanding machine to shift between a sanding position and anon-sanding position responsive to said signals from said first andsecond switch means;

whereby said second sanding machine sands a portion of said other sideof said picker stick adjacent the leading edge of said stick, omits saidserrated portion and sands a portion adjacent said trailing edge.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

a third elongated sanding machine carried by said frame for engaging andfinishing an upper surface of said picker stick as said picker stick ismoved therepass by said conveyor means, and

a fourth elongated sanding machine carried by said frame for engagingand finishing a lower surface of said picker stick as said picker stickis moved therepass by said conveyor means,

whereby said upper and lower surfaces, as well as said opposed sides areautomatically finished by said apparatus.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

conveyor means includes;

a plurality of spaced wheels engaging at least one side of said pickerstick, and

means for rotating said wheels for moving said picker stick in saidstraight path across said supporting frame into engagement with saidelongated sanding machines.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

means for pivotally supporting said first elongated sanding machine;

a second pneumatic cylinder carried by said frame having a piston rodextending out of one end thereof coupled to said first sanding machine;

means for coupling said second pneumatic cylinder to said source ofpressurized air for causing said piston rod of said second cylinder tobe extended;

whereby said first sanding machine engages said one side of said pickerstick under a predetermined pressure.

1. An apparatus for automatically finishing selected areas of anelongated picker stick while leaving a serrated portion of said stickunfinished, said picker stick having opposed sides joined by an upperand lower surface, said apparatus comprising: a supporting frame;conveyor means for moving said elongated picker stick in a straight pathover said supporting frame; a first elongated sanding machine carried bysaid frame on one side of said path for engaging and finishing one sideof said picker stick as said picker stick is moved therepass by saidconveyor means; a second elongated sanding machine pivotally supportedon said frame for being shifted into and out of engagement with theother side of said picker stick; a source of pressurized air; a doubleacting pneumatic cylinder carried by said frame having a piston rodextending out one end thereof coupled to said second sanding machine;valve means coupled between said pressurized source of air and saidcylinder capable of assuming a first state wherein air is coupledtherethrough to said cylinder extending said piston and a second statewherein air is coupled therethrough to said cylinder retracting saidpiston; a first switch means carried in the path of said picker pickerstick for supplying a signal to said valve means upon engaging saidpicker stick being moved by said conveyor means; a second switch meanscarried in said path of said picker stick and being spaced apredetermined distance from said first switch means for supplying asignal to said valve means upon engaging said picker stick being movedby said conveyor means; and said valve means selectively supplying airto said cylinder for causing said second sanding machine to shiftbetween a sanding position and a non-sanding position responsive to saidsignals from said first and second switch means; whereby said secondsanding machine sands a portion of said other side of said picker stickadjacent the leading edge of said stick, omits said serrated portion andsands a portion adjacent said trailing edge.
 2. The apparatus as setforth in claim 1 further comprising: a third elongated sanding machinecarried by said frame for engaging and finishing an upper surface ofsaid picker stick as said picker stick is moved therepass by saidconveyor means, and a fourth elongated sanding machine carried by saidframe for engaging and finishing a lower surface of said picker stick assaid picker stick is moved therepass by said conveyor means, wherebysaid upper and lower surfaces, as well as said opposed sides areautomatically finished by said apparatus.
 3. The apparatus as set forthin claim 1 further comprising: a bracket supporting said first switchmeans; a bracket supporting said second switch means; adjustable meanscarried by said brackets for varying the spacing between said first andsecond switch means; whereby said apparatus can be utilized forfinishing picker sticks of various lengths and by adjusting the spacingbetween said first and second switch means the lengtH and location ofsaid unsanded portion of said other side of said picker stick can bevaried.
 4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conveyormeans includes; a plurality of spaced wheels engaging at least one sideof said picker stick, and means for rotating said wheels for moving saidpicker stick in said straight path across said supporting frame intoengagement with said elongated sanding machines.
 5. The apparatus as setforth in claim 1 further comprising: means for pivotally supporting saidfirst elongated sanding machine; a second pneumatic cylinder carried bysaid frame having a piston rod extending out of one end thereof coupledto said first sanding machine; means for coupling said second pneumaticcylinder to said source of pressurized air for causing said piston rodof said second cylinder to be extended; whereby said first sandingmachine engages said one side of said picker stick under a predeterminedpressure.